Illumination device



Dec. 19, 1961 J. ENDELSON ILLUMINATION DEVICE Filed Jan. 20, 1960 I N VE N TO R JicufA/zra o/v BY m Mm ATTO R N EYS United States Patent 3,014,126 v ILLUMINATION DEVICE Jack Endelson, Atlantic Beach, N.Y., assignor to McPhilben Manufacturing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 20, 1960, Ser.No. 3,548

3 Claims. (Cl. 240-73) This invention relates in general to luminaires and in particular to an improved wall mounted luminaire.

The present invention is "an improvement in Wall mounted type of luminaire which includes a housing adapted to be secured to a wall, for electrical connection of one or more lamps within the housing, and a light transmitting member which closes the housing and effects the proper directing and/or diffusing of the light. In accordance with the invention there is provided a substantially L-shaped housing having inwardly directed flange members at the end of each leg portion between which is held a light transmitting member. A feature of the invention is the provision of a resilient holding bracket which permits the light transmitting member to be easily inserted or removed for access to the interior of the lamp housing.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved luminaire.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved luminaire including an elongated housing, substantially L-shaped in section, and including inwardly directed flanges on each leg portion adapted to receive a light transmitting member therebetween and including a resilient holding clip for said light transmitting member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luminaire which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a luminaire constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an improved light transmitting member holding clip constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings in particular the invention as embodied therein includes an elongated housing generally designated which, in the present embodiment, includes a central duplex socket member 12 which is connected electrically by wiring which extends through a nipple 14 which extends into a wall junction box 16.

The housing 10 is substantially L-shaped in section and includes a top leg portion 18 and a substantially vertical leg back-portion 20 which is adapted to be secured to a wall 22. The top leg portion 18- has a downwardly extending flange 23 at its outer end and the back portion 20 has a substantially horizontal flange portion 24 extend- 'ing outwardly from its lower end.

In accordance with the invention a light transmitting member holding bracket or clip member generally designated 26 is secured to the leg portion 20. The clip member 26 includes a lower outer hook portion 28 which holds a substantially L-shaped light transmitting member 30. The light transmitting member holding clip 26 includes a substantially vertical portion 32 having an open- 3,014,126 Patented Dec. "19., 1961 ing34 to permit this portion to be secured to the leg back -portion 20 of the housing 10. The hooked portion 28 extends downwardly from an outwardly extending horizontal portion 36 and the bottom edge of the hook rests against the flange portion 24. The light transmitting member holding bracket 26 is resilient so that it is a simple matter to remove the light transmitting member 30 by pressing the inner edge of the member against the hook 28 to deflect it backwardly and pulling the upper portion of the light transmitting member downwardly past the flange 23. The flange 23 extends downwardly at an angle to permit removal of the light transmitting member 30 in this manner.

The light transmitting member 30 may be installed in the same manner as it is removed by pressing the elongated side edge against the hook portion 28 of the light transmitting member holding bracket 26 and then manipulating the upper edge of the light transmitting member past the inside of the flange 23 to effect the proper positioning of the member. When the light transmitting member 30 is released, it is pressed tightly against the flange 23 as the clip 26 returns to its normal outline.

Thus the invention provides a luminaire having a light transmitting member closing the front face which may be removed easily by merely deflecting the holding bracket 26 and pulling the member out. No external or internal fastening means other than the holding bracket are required and thus obtaining access to the interior of the luminaire housing 10 is very simple. The construction is very inexpensive but it is sturdy and durable.

It should be appreciated that the clip member 26 is of a metal Which is sufliciently resilient to permit the deflection of the hook portion 28 and the horizontal portion 36 backwardly for release of the light transmitting member 30. The clip 26 is advantageously of a material which will effect the return of the hook portion to its original position so that when the light transmitting member 30 is replaced in the housing it is automatically located at the correct position. Thus, the mechanical memory of the clip member 26 permits controlled deflection of the hook portion 28 in the horizontal plane along the flange 24 when it is desired to remove the light transmitting member 30. Because of the particular shape of the hook portion 28 the L-shaped light transmitting member 30 is forced into place behind the flange portion 23 which retains it in position. Conversely, when the light transmitting member 30 is to "be removed, simple pressure may be applied to the hook portion 28 by pushing the straight portion of the light transmitting member 30 backwardly thereagainst.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise Without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A luminaire comprising an L-shaped housing, a flange extending from the end of each leg thereof, said flanges having inwardly facing surfaces, a light transmitting member positioned bet-ween said flanges and including end portions abutting the inwardly facing surfaces of said flanges, and a securing clip for said light transmitting member including a portion connected to said housing adjacent one of said flanges and a resilient hook portion extending from said securing clip into proximity to said one of said flanges and fitting over one of said end portions of said light transmitting member inwardly of the adjacent and abutting flange and biased against said one end portion of said light transmitting member and urging the other said end of said light transmitting member against the other said flange.

2.A lurninaire comprising an elongated housing having a substantially vertical back wall and a substantially horizontal top wall, a flange extending downwardly from said top wall, a resilient light transmitting member holding bracket secured to said vertical back wall and including a. hook portion opening outwardly relative to said vertical back wall, and a light transmitting member having one end received within said hooked portion of said resilient light transmitting member holding bracket and the other end positionedi-interiorly of said. flange and abutting the same, said resilient light transmitting member holding bracket biasing said' other end of said light transmitting member against said flange.

i 3. In the luminaire of claim 2 WiZlBIGiH SBid resilient light transmitting memberholding bracket includes a substantially vertical back portion connected to said vertical back wall, an outwardly extending portion connected to said substantially vertical-back portion and said hook portion of said holding bracket extends downwardly from the connection to the onter end of said-outwardly extending portion and is channel-shaped for receiving the edge of said light transmitting member. r

References Cited in the file ot-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Price Feb. 4,1958 Schneider v Nov. 28, 1958 

